With only two episodes left in Elsbeth Season 3, the CBS crime procedural is pulling out all the stops. This week's installment, titled "Catch and Kill," pits Carrie Preston's sharp-witted sleuth against a veteran gossip columnist named Betty Heymouth—a woman who has rubbed elbows with the biggest stars and traded in their secrets. But as Elsbeth soon discovers, Betty may have also killed to protect her own. Collider has an exclusive sneak peek that shows Elsbeth visiting the columnist's home, where she's less focused on the crime and more starstruck by the celebrity memorabilia on the walls.
Making the guest role even more exciting is that Betty is played by none other than Tracey Ullman, a seven-time Emmy winner and television legend. Ullman is no stranger to the Elsbeth universe—she previously appeared in Season 2 as psychic Marilyn Gladwell. This time, she brings her formidable comedic and dramatic chops to a character who has met everyone from Mick Jagger to the Rolling Stones, and who may have a dark side.
In the exclusive clip, Elsbeth is paired with Detective Buzz Fleming (Daniel Oreskes) as they follow Betty into her luxurious apartment. While Fleming tries to stay on task, Elsbeth can't help but gawk at the framed newspapers on the wall, including a piece about Jagger. Betty shares a story about the rock star interrupting her while she was dictating a column from a phone booth—but she emphasizes that she has "not once" missed a deadline. Elsbeth files that detail away, even as Fleming tries to question Betty about a neighbor upstairs.
The moment of truth arrives when Fleming asks how long Betty has known her upstairs neighbor, Lorena, who is the prime suspect in a murder. Elsbeth interrupts, circling back to Betty's perfect deadline record. When she learns that Betty files her work by 11:30 p.m., something clicks. Elsbeth pulls out the latest column and reads a passage about Lorena pulling a gun on a man. The timing doesn't add up, and Elsbeth's unconventional approach once again proves more effective than traditional detective work.
The rest of the episode promises a battle of wits between the sleuth and the high-powered gossiper. With only one episode left after this, the stakes are high—but fans can rest easy knowing that Elsbeth has already been renewed for Season 4.
"Catch and Kill" also marks the return of Laura Benanti as Nadine Clay and welcomes Erich Bergen (of Madam Secretary fame) for his second appearance in the Good Wife universe. The episode airs Thursday, May 14 on CBS, with the Season 3 finale following on May 21.
For more exclusive sneak peeks, check out our first look at 'Alice & Steve' and Daveed Diggs in 'Magic Hour'.
